In anticipation of an LCD shortage, Hitachi, Toshiba and Matsushita, have joined together to manufacture In-Plane Switching (IPS) TFT LCD panels, a technology the companies say provide greater viewing angles (170 degrees vertically and horizontally), and better images than traditional LCD. The new company, called IPS Alpha, is in Mobara, Chiba Prefecture, Japan and will focus on TV panels 23 inches and above.
IPS is a Hitachi technology that the companies describe as having minimal gray-scale inversion and more lifelike images because the LCD modules can rotate while remaining parallel to the substrate when a voltage is applied. The crystals then have ideal orientation. In addition, there is an advanced super (AS)-IPS mode system for use in televisions, large-screen monitors and other applications that they say achieves an approximate 30% improvement in the aperture ratio over conventional IPS technology, greater brightness and more realistic colors. February, 2005 is the date they predict the shortage will hit!